Cars

The Jaguar E-Type was unveiled for the first time on March 15, 1961 in Geneva, to the enthusiasm of the international press. Sir William Lyons, Jaguar’s founder, realized he had something very special on his hands, and had a second car delivered overnight from Coventry to Switzerland so he could carry out more tests at the show.

The E-Type was a revolutionary car in many ways, but it was Malcolm Sayer’s magnificent bodywork that set it apart from all the other cars on the road. With its streamlined headlamps, long, sculpted nose and double-centered exhaust, it had no equal and remains a unique proposition today. The E-Type is still considered by many to be one of the most beautiful cars of all time, with Enzo Ferrari famously describing it as “the most beautiful car in the world”.

But it wasn’t just its looks that made the E-Type a revelation: with a launch price of around £2,250 (about £38,000 in today’s money), it was surprisingly affordable. Dig a little deeper into the car’s technical details, and you’ll discover that it featured monocoque construction, independent rear suspension and 4-wheel disc brakes: all very advanced features for the 1960s.

The Jaguar Type E’s 3.8-liter in-line six-cylinder engine took part in five Le Mans victories for Jaguar in the 1950s (on the Jaguar Type C and Type D) and, with its 265 hp, it’s no slouch by today’s standards. It was claimed that the car could reach 150 mph, making it for a time the fastest production car in the world.

This copy was sold new in New York in May 1965. It is powered by a 4.2-liter in-line 6-cylinder engine.

The car was imported to the Netherlands in 2007 and then fully restored by its Dutch owner: originally Dark Blue with a blue leather interior, it is now Gun Metal Grey with a tobacco leather interior. Some photos of the restoration can be found in the photo folder accessible via the link below.

After its restoration, the car underwent further improvements, most notably the installation of a Getrag 5-speed gearbox in 2018 and a new clutch. A file of invoices for this period is available on request.

The engine works like a charm, is delightfully smooth and sounds fantastic. Performance is also impressive, with 269 hp. The suspension and brakes are also in good condition and offer a pleasant driving experience.

Present improvements :

• Triple SU HD8 Carburettor
• High-performance starter
• Electronic ignition 123
• Aluminum radiator
• Gretag 5-speed gearbox

The car is “Matching Numbers”, and if it has a limited history, the quality of the restoration is more than sufficient to appreciate the work done.